Normal Horse Temperature, Heart Rate, Breathing Rate

It's essential that every horse owner know his or her horse's normal, healthy resting temperature, heart rate, respiration (breathing) rate, and other vital signs and have trained the horse to allow handling for assessment of vital signs. If your horse becomes ill or injured, quickly take his vital signs before calling the veterinarian to help him/her get a better idea of how ill your horse might be. All you need is a watch that counts seconds, a thermometer (ideally a plastic digital one for safety), and a stethoscope. (A notepad for recording the vital sounds is never a bad idea either!)

Video: How to Take Your Horse's Vital Signs

Adult Horse (resting values):*

Temperature: 99-101°F (37.2-38.3°C)

Pulse: 28-44 beats per minute

Respiration (breathing rate): 10-24 breaths per minute

Mucous membranes (gums): Moist, healthy pink color

Capillary refill time (time it takes for capillaries in the gums to return to pink after being pressed with a finger): Two seconds or less

* If your horse's resting vital signs are not in these normal ranges, call your veterinarian to see what might be wrong. Remember that very hot and humid conditions may alter these normal values, so speak with your veterinarian.

Common Vital Sign Mistakes

Not leaving the thermometer in long enough (false low temperature reading)

Taking vital signs on a nervous horse (horses' pulse and respiration rates can increase dramatically if they are nervous)

Allowing the horse to sniff your hand to measure respiration rate (they will sniff far more quickly than their regular breathing rates)

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